Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
If you haven’t seen Kodi Bear’s extraordinary performance at Salisbury yesterday, Racing UK have helpfully posted it online. Whatever the explanation for the wacky route he followed through the race, Kodi Bear is clearly a huge talent who has thrashed a decent Group Three field despite covering more ground than his rivals.
Clive Cox said the colt slipped twice during the Prix Jean Prat, a detail which does not appear in the form book. He was beaten eight lengths that day but, if you’re prepared to put a line through that effort, his record is progressive and exciting. It’ll be fascinating to see his next effort at Group One level.
Gale Force (4.20) could also be a Group horse, though for now she just has to be a really good handicapper. She lines up in the Colwick Cup, a staying handicap at Nottingham, and appeals to me at 5-1.
She’s a half-sister to the stout-staying Group One winner Seal Of Approval, so it should be no great surprise that, when she finally broke her duck last month, it was in a two-miler. Today’s race is two furlongs shorter but it’s on turf (possibly quite soggy turf) and involves twice as many runners, so it will probably be a greater test of stamina.
It looks like there are a few in this field who may want to go to the front and not all of them are perfectly drawn to do so. From the five stall, Gale Force should be able to get a handy position tracking the pace before staying on dourly. Perhaps this test comes too early in her development but I’m sure she can still be competitive off her revised mark.
At Catterick tonight, you can get 10-1 about Lazy Sioux (7.45), which looks big for a race that is not as competitive as it may appear at first. She won when last tried over this course and distance, in April, and although she is now 8lb higher, she earned that with a subsequent win over the useful See Vermont at Beverley. She gets on well with the in-form Neil Farley and is versatile as to ground, though she’ll be drawn on the wrong side if it gets really soft.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Gworn 4-1
Bishop’s Leap 4-1
Ingleby Spring 22-1
Tuesday
Scurr Mist 13-2
Sixties Sue 7-2
Clary 5-1
Wednesday
Journey 33-1
Peterhouse 5-2
New Strategy 6-4
Thursday
Stockhill Diva 10-1
Kodi Bear 11-4
Subtle Knife 8-1
And our leader is …
jakebuckfast +25.75
… after finding Stockhill Diva and Kodi Bear yesterday. But his lead has actually been cut because chris1623 (+17.50) had Stockhill Diva and Subtle Knife. Other good scores: yasmin11 +6.50, waltersobchak +3.50, dean055 +2, Bonzodrongo +2.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.20 Newbury, 3.55 Newbury, 4.20 Nottingham.
This week’s prize, generously offered by Beverley racecourse, is a pair of Premier enclosure tickets for their weekend’s racing on Saturday 29 AND Sunday 30 August. The Saturday card features some of Britain’s fastest horses in the Beverley Bullet, while the Sunday is a laid-back occasion, featuring a beer and folk music festival, with funfair rides and face painting for any children needing entertainment. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -12.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day (TODAY).
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
